Tag Archives: ZINK Paper

Fujifilm now offering wireless pocket instant printer for iPhone

I covered the little wireless printer from LG that I have been carrying (LG Introduces An iPhone Bluetooth Version Of The Polaroid ZINK Pocket Printer). It has proven to work nicely, with the ZINK paper creating nearly indestructible long life ‘little’ prints that have proven nice to share or review how the printed photo will look.

Now, Fuji is jumping in with its Instax technology. If you remember the Polaroid cameras that pushed out the square framed pictures which developed in minutes, same thing, just smaller. Both the ZINK and Instax technologies are from the folks at Polaroid many years ago, but both have been updated and work nicely in today’s connected world.

For the Fujifilm Instax Share SP-1, it is more than just portable wireless printing. The device actually lets multiple people connect to it (via a free app) and print. Great fun at parties and gatherings. Using the app, some tuning can be done to the image prior to printing, then just send it and out pops a photo that literally develops right in your hand. The finished product is about the size of a business card. It’s the same film/printing that comes out of the Fujifilm Instax cameras (love my Mini 90 Neo Classic).

The Fujifilm Instax Share is portable, it is a bit big to put in your front pant pocket. There are colorful carry bag options, sold separately, as is the wall power plug. The printer comes with CR2 batteries (required 2) which Fuji says is good for 100 prints (printers are 10 per pack). The batteries are readily available and will set you back about a couple bucks a piece when needed.

While the device has yet to be delivered, I am familiar with the Instax prints which are pretty clear. The printer shows that it will be available June 1, but Lomography has brought a few over to the US to make available now. Their pricing isn’t much more than what folks are buying directly off the shelf in Japan so it’s nice to see no ‘limited quantity’ price gouging is going on.

I’ll post up some photos of the device and prints when it gets here in a day or two.

FujiFilm Instax Share

LG Introduces An iPhone Bluetooth Version Of The Polaroid ZINK Pocket Printer

I outlined the fun I’m having with the Canon wireless printer earlier (Canon SELPHY CP900 Wireless Printer and an iPhone is my modern Polaroid). While the printer is small and has an optional battery pack, it isn’t ‘pocket’ size. Polaroid introduced ink free printing with their ZINK paper. I played with it on my Polaroid Z2300 Camera/Printer… a boxy camera that has the option to print any photos you choose directly on paper cards inside of the camera. Polaroid also has a line of printers using the same technology, the CZA (often called the Pogo at local stores like BestBuy). Bad news for iOS device users is that the printer only supports Android devices.

01 Polaroid ZINK Printer

In a magazine out of the UK, I noticed that LG said they were producing a line of ZINK based Pocket Printers. When I looked around, I found on Amazon two models available, the PD221 and PD233. Both of these printers claim they are for Android only, like the Polaroid manufactured version.

02 LG Pocket Printer for the iPhone

Visiting LG’s site, I found that LG is showing the PD233 now works with iOS devices via their free universal app! It would appear we can now send photos from our iPhones (and iPads) to the LG PD233 for printing via Bluetooth.

03 LG Pocket Printer iPhone

The iOS app does allow for some editing, stamps, sharing on Social sites, and adding QR codes. Uh, QR codes? Yup, use the app to upload a photo to Facebook, then print that photo with your LG Pocket Printer to include a QR code for people to jump from the Printed version to the online version.

A few facts from the LG Product page:

  • Bluetooth – Yes
  • Micro USB – Yes
  • USB Host – Yes
  • NFC Tag – Yes
  • Resolution – 640 ｘ 1224 pixels
  • Print speed – 40sec/ Per paper
  • Battery type – Li-Polymer(7.4V , 500mA)
  • Charge time – 1 and 30 hour
  • Print number – 20sheet (After fully charge, connect BT) 15sheet (After fully charge, connect USB)
  • Printer size (W x H x D) – 72.4 x 120.9 x 24.0 mm

Androids have the ability to send to the printer via a tap using NFC, I wonder if iOS7 might get an upgrade to include the PD233 in their options to ‘send to’.